The Origin of Tea

December 20, 20192 min read

A great deal of legend and myths surround the story of tea's origin. According to one such legend, it is believed that tea was first discovered by a Chinese emperor named Shen Nung in 2737 BCE, after a leaf accidentally blew into his bowl of hot water. This led to a change in the water's color and gave it a refreshing and aromatic punch. From then onwards, the emperor wanted to drink nothing but tea. This is how tea found its place in the world.

The first time tea found its place in Chinese manuscripts and documents was 4,700 years ago. Tea was actually originated in China and has now found its place in different regions like India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Africa and others.

The popularity of tea in China kept on growing from the 4th century to 8th century. It was no longer being used merely for its medicinal nature, tea found its place in everyday refreshments. Gradually, tea plantations spread all across China and tea merchants made a fortune out of them. Owning expensive and elegant tea ware became a symbol of aristocracy for people.

The Chinese Empire held a tight control over the preparation and cultivation of crops. It was also established that only women were supposed to handle tea leaves as they were hailed for their pure essence. These female handlers were not supposed to eat garlic, onion, or strong spices since the odor on their fingertips might contaminate the precious tea leaves.

Today, more than 75% of all the tea produced in the world is black tea, 20% is green tea and the rest is occupied by oolongs, white, and yellow tea. All of them have a legacy of health and wellness and contribute differently in our journey with tea. Happy Sipping!